Virginia Softball Sweeps Doubleheader From Virginia Tech

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April 25, 2001

SALEM, Va. – The University of Virginia softball team received timely hitting from second-year third baseman Ruby Rojas (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) and two excellent pitching performances from third-year Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) in sweeping a doubleheader from Virginia Tech Tuesday night (April 24) at Moyer Sports Complex. The Cavaliers won the first game 4-2 in eight innings and took the nightcap 3-1 to improve their winning streak to 12 games. UVa is now 49-13 on the season, while Virginia Tech falls to 32-21.

Rojas snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to lift the Cavaliers to a 4-2 victory in the first game. Dennis earned the win in the first contest with a complete-game effort. She also picked up the win in relief of starter Erin Allinder (Norco, Calif./Norco) in UVa’s 3-1 victory in the second game. Dennis entered the game in the fourth inning with the bases loaded and struck out the side. She pitched four scoreless innings in improving her record to 17-5 this season.

In the first game, Dennis allowed just one unearned run on five hits. She struck out nine and walked three in eight innings of work. In the nightcap, Dennis allowed just one hit in four innings. She struck out six and walked one in earning her second win of the night.

In the first game, the Hokies took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning when Shanel Garofalo scored on Amy Voorhees’ double. UVa knotted the game at 1-1 with an unearned run of its own in the top of the third. Fourth-year right fielder Meaghan Young (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) singled with two outs and moved to second on an error before scoring on Rojas’ single. The game remained tied at 1-1 over the next four innings. In the top of the eighth inning, Young was placed on second base to start the inning in accordance to the international tie-breaker rule. With one out, Rojas hit a two-run homer to left to give the Cavaliers a 3-1 lead. After Dennis drew her third walk of the game, first-year shortstop Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) singled. With runners on first and second with two outs, third-year designated player Kelly McCabe (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin) singled down the left field line to score Dennis to make the score 4-1. In the bottom of the eighth, Virginia Tech’s Carmen Farmer hit a double to drive in Bronwyn Blair to make the final score 4-2.

Rojas was two for four in the game, including her seventh home run of the season, and drove in three runs. Young scored two runs to increase her single season school record total 50. Dennis broke the Cavaliers’ single season walks record with her first of the game and 40th of the season and concluded the game with three walks and 42 this season. Ashlee Dobbe (13-8) was the losing pitcher in the first game. She allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and struck out six while walking three. Mindi Wylie led Virginia Tech offensively with a pair of hits in as many at-bats.

In the second game, the Cavaliers scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning. Young led off with a single and moved all the way to third on a Hokie throwing error. She scored on a wild pitch. First-year Tracy Tate (Lynchburg, Va./Brookville, Va.), pinch-running for Dennis who drew a walk, scored on first-year first baseman Hannah Owings’ (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty) single. Virginia Tech cut the UVa lead to 2-1 with a run in the top of the fourth inning. The Hokies registered four consecutive singles with the fourth hit by Maura Green scoring Garofalo from third. Dennis then entered the game in relief of Allinder and proceeded to get out of the bases load, no-out jam by striking out the next three batters. The Cavaliers extended their lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth when second-year second baseman Jill Bumler (Montclair, Va./Bishop O’Connell) scored on second-year center fielder Katie Weinberg’s (Reston, Va./South Lake) single to right.

Young was two for two with a run in the second game, while Owings had two hits in three at-bats and also drove in a run. Catherine Gilliam (9-8) took the loss for the Hokies. She gave up three runs (one earned) on eight hits and struck out four while walking one. Ali Verbage had two hits for the Hokies.

Virginia returns to action on Saturday, April 28 when it travels to Tallahassee, Fla. for a crucial ACC doubleheader against Florida State. The first game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.